Time Limits & Participation

The PowerCranks Contender may be contested as a solo rider or as a relay team consisting of 2 or4 riders. Most forms of 2 & 3 wheel bicycles, wheelchairs and human powered vehicles are welcome. The PowerCranks Contender is open to all cyclists 19 years of age and older who are physically fit enough to maintain daily minimum pace set by race director. SOLO riders who are new to ultra-cycling should contact us to learn more about the anticipated riding conditions and demands.

Ultra-cycling is a discipline of cycling that is practiced around the world. In the simplest terms; ultra-cycling races are not divided by stages and for the most part, there is no drafting, no pelotons and no scheduled breaks: non-stop racing from the start line to the finish line. The time spent cycling and resting is determined by each individual rider, his or her teammates and support crew.

Whether competing as a soloist or as part of a relay team all cyclists are supported by an escort crew which manages the cyclist’s efforts and provides a vehicle escorting their rider at all times. Crew size is determined by number of riders, personal preferences and number of available participants. There are minimum requirements that must be maintained at all times to aid safety of all participants. These support teams are the responsibility of each racer.

Solo riders are supported by escort teams that vary in size from five to a dozen people who ordinarily travel in mini-vans, SUVs and motor homes. TWO or FOUR person relay teams will have larger more sophisticated support crews.

At first glance the PowerCranks Contender may seem to be out-of-reach for weekend warriors and moderately trained cyclists, but those that take a closer look will discover that there are many ways to compete and finish within the prescribed time limits.. The opportunity exists for a wide range of cyclists to officially complete the PowerCranks Contender, but it is a serious and demanding challenge that should only be contested by those cyclists that have trained, planned and organized a safe, realistic race plan.

Competition is open to soloists and relay teams of 2 or 4 riders who are over the age of 19 and who possess the physical ability, desire and means to compete. This is an amateur event open to all riders; however, we do provide free consultation for those who are unsure. The main consideration is safety and our race management team retains the right to deny anyone’s participation on the basis of safety or any other issue considered detrimental to the participants, event volunteers, staff or spectators. Riders must possess strong bike handling skills as descending the mountain roads requires confidence, ability and experience. Soloists should be extremely well conditioned cyclists. If you cannot comfortably ride 320 kilometers a day then the solo division is not for you. If you wish to finish in a competitive time you will need to be able to ride around 450 km a day. If in doubt, please contact us to discuss your abilities or join a relay team. Riding on a team is the best experience you can have to prepare you for future solo competition.

Are you ready for the PowerCranks Contender?

The PowerCranks Contender is an amateur event open to all cyclists 19 years and older who are physically able and possess the required bike handling skills. While the opportunity exists for a wide range of cyclists to officially complete the BC Contender it is a demanding challenge that requires the proper preparation and planning.

At ten times the length of a century-ride the PowerCranks Contender is an ultra-cycling challenge that requires an organized, safe and realistic race plan. Solo riders will need to maintain a pace of 13.5 kilometers per hour, but don’t forget in ultra-endurance cycling that is calculated on 24 hours of riding per day.

The minimum daily distance cycled is 320 km. If you are a soloist, divide the hours you intend to ride per day into 320 to learn what pace you will need to maintain. For example; if you were to ride 18.5 hours a day your required pace would be 320 divided by 18.5 = 17.29 kilometers per hour.

Don’t let the numbers fool you, nothing about the PowerCranks Contender is easy, but it is accomplish-able if you are properly prepared and know what to expect.

Contested in an ultra-endurance format, the PowerCranks Contender is comprised of a single stage. Riders are timed for all time elapsed from when they start to when the cross the finish line or unfortunately run out of time.